- VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) warns UK against restricting VPNs
- The group says treating VPN as a “loophole” exposes children to “greater harm.”
- The “Growing up in an online world” consultation is open until May 26, 2026
The debate over children’s online safety in the UK has reached boiling point. The cybersecurity industry is drawing a line in the sand as a leading coalition of VPN providers warns that restricting access to privacy tools will ultimately do more harm than good.
Anyone who uses the best VPN to secure their web traffic already knows that these tools are essential for digital hygiene. However, the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) – an industry-led consortium operating under the i2Coalition, whose members include NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN – has released a coordinated statement regarding the UK government’s consultation on children’s online safety, warning that lawmakers are ignoring this reality.
The ongoing government consultation ‘Growing up in an online world’ is exploring ways to enforce age restrictions on social media. But privacy advocates are sounding the alarm, with VTI saying that limiting access to fundamental digital safety tools could inadvertently expose children to greater dangers online.
The pushback comes shortly after we took a closer look at the UK’s online security inquiry, revealing the government’s framework is heavily treating VPNs as a “loophole” to avoid age verification, rather than legitimate security software.
The VTI outcry comes on the same day that Proton founder and CEO Andy Yen warns that the global age verification campaign will lead to “the death of online anonymity.”
A complete misunderstanding of security
The VTI statement leaves no room for ambiguity, fiercely criticizing the government’s characterization of privacy software.
“Treating VPNs primarily as a ‘loophole’ is a complete misunderstanding of their role,” VTI said in its response, highlighting how the same encrypted technology used to protect corporate and government networks helps individuals protect their own privacy and security, including children.
“Policies that weaken or restrict VPNs risk reducing the online security of the very users these proposals are intended to protect, without providing commensurate benefits,” adds the VTI.
The irony of this regulatory double standard has not gone unnoticed.
A recent TechRadar investigation revealed that the UK government is spending millions on VPNs to secure its own communications. This, as the House of Lords and Ofcom regulators consider new measures that could restrict children’s access to exactly the same technology.
According to the VTI, treating these tools differently depending on who uses them ignores the fundamental reality of Internet security.
Protecting the most vulnerable
For the average consumer, a virtual private network encrypts Internet traffic and hides IP addresses. Although this can sometimes be used to bypass geo-blocks, its main function is to keep personal data out of the reach of hackers, scammers and aggressive online trackers.
The VTI was quick to point out that younger generations need these protections just as much as adults. By portraying privacy software as a threat to children, regulators risk removing a vital layer of defense for those who need it most.
“Families and young people also rely on VPNs,” notes VTI.
“Students use them to securely access college networks from home and on public Wi-Fi networks. Young people use VPNs to reduce their exposure to tracking, scams, and harassment. Vulnerable teens, including LGBTQ+ youth, children experiencing domestic violence, and those seeking sensitive health information or advice, often rely on privacy tools to safely explore the Internet.”
As the UK continues to debate how to enforce its online safety law, the tech community at large remains deeply concerned. By attempting to protect the web from children with weakened encryption and restricted software, regulators could ultimately break the very mechanisms that keep everyone safe.
